Gaming system server

ABSTRACT

An example gaming system server is arranged to receive terminal data from a player operable terminal and determine whether the terminal data includes at least one of game play data and lottery data. The server includes a game module which operates in response to a determination that the terminal data includes game play data to generate server game data based on the game play data for transmission to the player operable terminal; a lottery module which operates in response to a determination that the terminal data includes lottery data to generate a lottery entry; and a communication module arranged to communicate the lottery entry to an independent lottery system in a form compatible with the lottery system, receive a receipt from the lottery system for the lottery entry, and associate the receipt with the terminal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application relates to and claims the benefit of priorityfrom Australian Provisional Patent Application Number 2010901658, filedon Apr. 20, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a gaming system server.

BACKGROUND

Currently, client/server gaming systems are proposed which enableclients to access games hosted by proprietary game servers.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments of the invention provide a gaming system server, theserver arranged to receive terminal data from a player operable terminaland determine whether the terminal data includes at least one of gameplay data and lottery data, the server comprising:

-   -   a game module which operates in response to a determination that        the terminal data includes game play data to generate server        game data based on the game play data for transmission to the        player operable terminal;    -   a lottery module which operates in response to a determination        that the terminal data includes lottery data to generate a        lottery entry; and    -   a communication module for communicating the lottery entry to an        independent lottery system in a form compatible with the lottery        system, receiving a receipt from the lottery system for the        lottery entry, and associating the receipt with the terminal.

In an embodiment, the server associates the receipt with a terminal byassociating the receipt with a player of the terminal.

In an embodiment, the gaming system server comprises a determinationmodule for conducting the determination.

In an embodiment, the determination module selectively activates thelottery module or the game module in dependence on whether game playdata or lottery data is included in the terminal data.

In an embodiment, the gaming system server is arranged to communicatewith a plurality of player operable terminals and process terminal datafrom each player terminal to determine whether the terminal dataincludes game play data or lottery data.

In an embodiment, the server comprises a plurality of computers and thecommunication module is implemented by a computer which is separate tothe computer or computers which implement the game play module and thelottery module.

In an embodiment, the gaming system server comprises a processor and atangible memory accessible by the processor to enable the processor toexecute computer program instructions stored therein for the game playmodule, the lottery module and the communications module.

Certain embodiments of the invention also provide a method in a gamingsystem, comprising:

receiving terminal data from a player operable terminal at a gamingserver and determining whether the terminal data includes at least oneof game play data and lottery data, the server comprising:

operating a game module of the game server in response to adetermination that the terminal data includes game play data to generateserver game data based on the game play data for transmission to theplayer operable terminal;

operating a lottery module of the game server in response to adetermination that the terminal data includes lottery data to generate alottery entry;

communicating the lottery entry from the game server to an independentlottery system in a form compatible with the lottery system;

receiving a receipt at the game server from the lottery system for thelottery entry; and

associating the receipt with the terminal.

In an embodiment, the method comprises associating the receipt with aterminal by associating the receipt with a player of the terminal.

In an embodiment, the method comprises selectively activating thelottery module or the game module in dependence on whether game playdata or lottery data is included in the terminal data.

Certain embodiments of the invention also provide program code whichwhen executed implements the method.

Certain embodiments of the invention also provide a tangible computerreadable medium comprising the computer program code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the invention are further explained by means ofthe following non-limiting examples and in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows schematically an embodiment of a client-server based gamingsystem with a plurality of gaming terminals in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of further components of a gaming system; and

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of certain components of a gamingsystem.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in thedrawings. It should be understood, however, that the present inventionis not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in theattached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Although the following discloses example methods, systems, articles ofmanufacture, and apparatus including, among other components, softwareexecuted on hardware, it should be noted that such methods and apparatusare merely illustrative and should not be considered as limiting. Forexample, it is contemplated that any or all of these hardware andsoftware components could be embodied exclusively in hardware,exclusively in software, exclusively in firmware, or in any combinationof hardware, software, and/or firmware. Accordingly, while the followingdescribes example methods, systems, articles of manufacture, andapparatus, the examples provided are not the only way to implement suchmethods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus.

When any of the appended claims are read to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the elements in an atleast one example is hereby expressly defined to include a tangiblemedium such as a memory, DVD, CD, Blu-ray, etc. storing the softwareand/or firmware.

FIG. 1 shows schematically a gaming system 1 with a plurality of gamingterminals GT1, GT2 . . . GTn 101, where the number n is arbitrary. Eachgaming terminal 101 is equipped with a player interface having a displayscreen and input means comprised of one or more input devices, such as atouch screen, and client game program code which implements a number offunctions when executed as described in further detail below includingcommunicating via a network, in the form of Internet 103, with a server102 to seek to establish a gaming session with a game module on server102. The server 102 is also arranged to communicate with an externallottery system 104 via the Internet 103.

The gaming system 1 according to the present embodiment is based on aclient/server architecture where the game software is divided into aclient game module and a server game module. In order to run a game theclient game module is associated with, and use functions available at, aserver game module. When a game is played via a client gaming terminal101, a game session is established and game session data is generated inthe course of the game. Each game session has a specific identity and isassigned a game session identify code. The game session data is storedin the game server database associated with the game session identitycode.

FIG. 2 shows schematically a client and server based computerised gamingsystem in further detail with a client gaming terminal 101 and a server102 that are communicatively coupled. The gaming terminal 101 and theserver 102 are provided with data processors, memory, datacommunications interfaces, control programs, user input/outputinterfaces etc as is known in the art. Different functions and featuresthat are specific to an embodiment are preferably realised by softwarecomputer program code executed by data processors in the server and inthe client respectively, or by employing specifically designedelectronic components, or by means of combinations of software andelectronic components. In the example of FIG. 2, there is only a singleclient gaming terminal 101 but of course a number of client gamingterminals 101 are normally connected to a server 102 as shown in FIG. 1.In this context a server 204 generally means hardware and software unitsin a central system that provide server functions, database functionsand other centralized functions to connectable client gaming terminals101.

The server 102 is provided with an application program interface, inshort called server API 206, enabling communication between a servermodule of a specific game application program 208 and general servergaming functions 210, 212, 214, 216 installed on the server 102. Thegeneral server gaming functions are provided to be available for anyspecific game application program independently of the specific gamecontent. These general server gaming functions are typically functionssuch as a database 210, a random number generator 212, an accountservice function 214, a log service function 216, or other functionsthat can be beneficially shared and used by different specific gameapplication programs.

The client gaming terminal 101 is also provided with an applicationprogram interface, “client API” 220, enabling communication between aclient game module 218 of the specific game application program andgeneral client gaming functions 222, 224, 226, 228 installed on theclient gaming terminal 101 and used by different client game modules.The general client gaming functions are designed for assisting inimplementing and executing a specific game on the client gaming terminal101 and are available for the client game module 218. These generalclient gaming functions are, in different embodiments, a selection of agraphical user interface (GUI) 222, a cashbox function 224, a soundfunction 226, user input interface function, for example buttons 228,data storage 229, a printer 203, a bar code reader 233 and otherfunctions that are related to the performance of a game. The client gamemodule 218 is communicatively coupled to the corresponding server gamemodule 208 for communicating requests 209 and responses 211 in order toutilize the general gaming functions provided in the server. For eachgame a message protocol for communication between the client module andthe server module is generated, the protocol is for example based on XMLand is shared by the client 101 and the server 102.

A specific game application program thus comprises a server game module208 and a client game module 218 that communicate either directly or viaan application program interface on the client side and the server siderespectively as shown in FIG. 2. The client game module 218 uses aselection of general client gaming functions that are available in theclient gaming terminal 101, whereas the server module 208 uses aselection of general server gaming functions 210, 212, 214, 216 that arecommonly used by different game applications and that are provided andavailable centrally in the server 204 in database 210. Further detailsof a server gaming architecture can be found in WO 2006/052213 andPCT/SE2006/000559, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

Establishment of the gaming session involves the gaming server loadingthe relevant server module, and providing (if necessary) the relevantclient module to the client gaming terminal 101.

In the embodiment, there are a plurality of modules provided in theclient and the server such that the player can play game and the sametime purchase a lottery ticket. That is, during a break in play of agame or while the game doesn't require player interaction such as duringa free game feature, the player can purchase a lottery ticket at theterminal 101.

The arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 3 where it will be apparent thatthe game server which otherwise operates as indicated in FIG. 2 has botha client lottery module 350 and a game module 218. Accordingly, in use,the gaming client 101 is operated by the player to enter instructionsfor play of the game or to enter instructions for purchase of a lotteryticket. These instructions are formatted and sent to the server asterminal data.

The gaming server is advantageously arranged to determine withdetermination module 310 whether terminal data it receives containsinstructions for either play of a game, in which case the server gamemodule 208, or instructions for entry in a lottery 330, in which case itinvokes the lottery module 330. The lottery module 330 formulates thenumbers received from the player as part of the terminal data andgenerates a lottery entry. It then passes this lottery entry to anexternal communication module 340 which implements a wrapper function,which adds address information and an identifier compatible with theexternal lottery system before communication with the lottery system 104over network 103. The external communication module 340 (or the lotterymodule 330) stores data in the lottery database 360 linking thecommunication with the external lottery system to make the lottery entryto the lottery terminal for which the lottery entry was generated. Thedata linking the entry to the terminal can be, for example, a sessionidentifier. This enables the external communication module 360, uponreceipt of a receipt generated by the lottery system 104 for the lotteryentry, to pass the receipt to the correct terminal where it can beprinted by the player.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that while in the abovedescribed embodiment, there is a single communication between lotterymodule 330 and the client 350 and the lottery module 330 in the server330 in order to generate the data for an entry, there may, in practicebe multiple communications.

Further, embodiments are envisaged where part of the communication maybe to load the lottery module onto the client 101. Still further, it maybe the case that only one of the lottery module 330 or the game servermodule 208 is active within the server 102 at any one time and thedetermination module 310 determines which of these to activate.

Persons skilled in the art, will appreciate from the above descriptionof the system that the invention may be further embodied as a method. Itwill be appreciated that at least part of the method will be implementeddigitally by a processor. Persons skilled in the art will alsoappreciate that the method could be implemented by providing programcode. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, forexample on a tangible computer readable storage medium, such as a discor a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as adata signal (for example, by transmitting it from a server). Personsskilled in the art, will appreciate that program code provides a seriesof instructions executable by the processor.

Herein the term “processor” is used to refer generically to any devicethat can process computer readable instructions and may include: amicroprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or othercomputational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or aserver. That is a processor may be provided by any suitable logiccircuitry for receiving inputs, processing them in accordance withinstructions stored in memory and generating outputs (for example on thedisplay). Such processors are sometimes also referred to as centralprocessing units (CPUs). Most processors are general purpose units,however, it is also know to provide a specific purpose processor usingan application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA).

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context requires otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e.to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude thepresence or addition of further features in various embodiments of theinvention.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to theparticular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include allembodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A gaming system server, the server arranged to receive terminal datafrom a player operable terminal and determine whether the terminal dataincludes at least one of game play data and lottery data, the servercomprising: a game module which operates in response to a determinationthat the terminal data includes game play data to generate server gamedata based on the game play data for transmission to the player operableterminal; a lottery module which operates in response to a determinationthat the terminal data includes lottery data to generate a lotteryentry; and a communication module arranged to communicate the lotteryentry to an independent lottery system in a form compatible with thelottery system, receive a receipt from the lottery system for thelottery entry, and associate the receipt with the terminal.
 2. A gamingsystem server as claimed in claim 1, wherein the server associates thereceipt with a terminal by associating the receipt with a player of theterminal.
 3. A gaming system server as claimed in claim 1, comprising adetermination module for conducting the determination.
 4. A gamingsystem server as claimed in claim 2, comprising a determination modulefor conducting the determination.
 5. A gaming system server as claimedin claim 4, wherein the determination module selectively activates thelottery module or the game module in dependence on whether game playdata or lottery data is included in the terminal data.
 6. A gamingsystem server as claimed in claim 1, arranged to communicate with aplurality of player operable terminals and process terminal data fromeach player terminal to determine whether the terminal data includesgame play data or lottery data.
 7. A gaming system server as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the server comprises a plurality of computers and thecommunication module is implemented by a computer which is separate tothe computer or computers which implement the game play module and thelottery module.
 8. A gaming system server as claimed in claim 1,comprising a processor and a tangible memory accessible by the processorto enable the processor to execute computer program instructions storedtherein for the game play module, the lottery module and thecommunications module.
 9. A method in a gaming system, comprising:receiving terminal data from a player operable terminal at a gamingserver and determining whether the terminal data includes at least oneof game play data and lottery data, the server comprising: operating agame module of the game server in response to a determination that theterminal data includes game play data to generate server game data basedon the game play data for transmission to the player operable terminal;operating a lottery module of the game server in response to adetermination that the terminal data includes lottery data to generate alottery entry; communicating the lottery entry from the game server toan independent lottery system in a form compatible with the lotterysystem; receiving a receipt at the game server from the lottery systemfor the lottery entry; and associating the receipt with the terminal.10. A method as claimed in claim 9, comprising associating the receiptwith a terminal by associating the receipt with a player of theterminal.
 11. A method as claimed in claim 9, comprising selectivelyactivating the lottery module or the game module in dependence onwhether game play data or lottery data is included in the terminal data.12. A method as claimed in claim 10, comprising selectively activatingthe lottery module or the game module in dependence on whether game playdata or lottery data is included in the terminal data.
 13. A tangiblecomputer readable medium comprising the computer program code which,when executed, implements a method in a gaming system, the methodcomprising: receiving terminal data from a player operable terminal at agaming server and determining whether the terminal data includes atleast one of game play data and lottery data, the server comprising:operating a game module of the game server in response to adetermination that the terminal data includes game play data to generateserver game data based on the game play data for transmission to theplayer operable terminal; operating a lottery module of the game serverin response to a determination that the terminal data includes lotterydata to generate a lottery entry; communicating the lottery entry fromthe game server to an independent lottery system in a form compatiblewith the lottery system; receiving a receipt at the game server from thelottery system for the lottery entry; and associating the receipt withthe terminal.